Top

Open Access 04-01-2025

Wellbeing and the Lived Experience of Injured Workers Following Finalisation of a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Authors: James Weir, Robyn Fary, Samantha Lee, Tim Mitchell, Venerina Johnston, Mary Wyatt, Robert Guthrie, Bronwyn Myers, Darren Beales

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose

Workers’ compensation claims can negatively affect the wellbeing of injured workers. For some, these negative effects continue beyond finalisation of the workers’ compensation claim. It is unclear what factors influence wellbeing following finalisation of a workers’ compensation claim. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore wellbeing through the lived experience of individuals who have finalised a workers’ compensation claim in the state of Western Australia.

Methods

A qualitative study with individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews was performed (n = 20, 55% female, average claim length 22.9 months, average time since claim end 33.4 months). Claim finalisation modes included full medical recovery, claim settlement with permanent impairment, direct settlement with the insurer and settlement with the insurer facilitated by a lawyer. The interview schedule was informed by a previous scoping review and cross-sectional survey completed by this research team. Qualitative data were analysed utilising a reflexive, interpretative phenomenological analysis approach.

Results

Five superordinate and their associated subordinate themes were identified; (1) The role of support; (2) Stigma and discrimination; (3) A new normal; (4) The importance of information; and (5) Recommended resources.

Conclusions

Injured workers experience a range of outcomes related to their wellbeing and employment following the finalisation of their workers’ compensation claim. Based on their experiences, resources to facilitate a transition and adjustment to life following a claim have been suggested by injured workers, including information regarding seeking employment, seeking welfare support, educational materials regarding future expectations, and individualised support care packages.

Available only for authorised users

The Social Research Centre. 2021 National return to work survey report: February 2022. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: The Social Research Centre; 2021.

Caruso GM. Biopsychosocial considerations in unnecessary work disability. Psychol Inj Law. 2013;6(3):164–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-013-9162-y.CrossRef

Aurbach R. Breaking the web of needless disability. Work. 2014;48(4):591–607. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-141913.CrossRefPubMed

Kilgour E, Kosny A, McKenzie D, Collie A. Interactions between injured workers and insurers in workers’ compensation systems: a systematic review of qualitative research literature. J Occup Rehabil. 2015;25(1):160–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9513-x.CrossRefPubMed

Weir J, Fary R, Gibson M, Mitchell T, Johnston V, Wyatt M, et al. Wellbeing after finalization of a workers’ compensation claim: a systematic scoping review. J Occup Rehabil. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-023-10168-6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sears JM, Edmonds AT, Hannon PA, Schulman BA, Fulton-Kehoe D. Workplace wellness program interest and barriers among workers with work-related permanent impairments. Workplace Health Saf. 2022;70(8):348–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799221076872.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sears JM, Edmonds AT, MacEachen E, Fulton-Kehoe D. Appraisal of Washington State workers’ compensation-based return-to-work programs and suggested system improvements: a survey of workers with permanent impairments. Am J Ind Med. 2021;64(11):924–40. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23289.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Sutton J, Austin Z. Qualitative research: data collection, analysis, and management. Can J Hosp Pharm. 2015;68(3):226–31. https://doi.org/10.4212/cjhp.v68i3.1456.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Workcover Western Australia. Workcover WA Guidance Notes for Approved Medical Specialists: Procedures for the permanent impairment assessment Perth, Western Australia: Workcover Western Australia; 2020.

10.

Smith JA, Osborn M. Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In: Qualitative psychology: a practical guide to research methods. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2003. p. 51–80.

11.

Weir J, Fary R, Mitchell T, Johnston V, Wyatt M, Guthrie R, et al. Wellbeing after finalisation of a workers’ compensation claim: a cross-sectional survey. J Occup Environ Med. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003264CrossRef

12.

Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzm042.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Benson T, Sladen J, Liles A, Potts HWW. Personal wellbeing score (PWS)-a short version of ONS4: development and validation in social prescribing. BMJ Open Quality. 2019;8(2): e000394. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000394.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

14.

Smith BW, Dalen J, Wiggins K, Tooley E, Christopher P, Bernard J. The Brief Resilience Scale: assessing the ability to bounce back. Int J Behav Med. 2008;15(3):194–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705500802222972.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Kessler RC, Barker PR, Colpe LJ, Epstein JF, Gfroerer JC, Hiripi E, et al. Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003;60(2):184–9. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.60.2.184.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Office for National Statistics: Personal well-being user guidance. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/methodologies/personalwellbeingsurveyuserguide (2018). Accessed April 2024 2024.

17.

Gale NK, Heath G, Cameron E, Rashid S, Redwood S. Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2013;13(1):117. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-13-117.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

18.

Chibnall JT, Tait RC. Long-term adjustment to work-related low back pain: associations with socio-demographics, claim processes, and post-settlement adjustment. Pain Med. 2009;10(8):1378–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00738.x.CrossRefPubMed

19.

The Social Research Centre. National return to work survey: summary report. Melbourne, Victoria: Safe Work Australia; 2018.

20.

Casey T, Hu X, Lee QY, Carden C. Stigma towards injured or ill workers: research on the causes and impact of stigma in workplaces, and approaches to creating positive workplace cultures that support return to work: Griffith University; 2021.

21.

Kirsh B, Slack T, King CA. The nature and impact of stigma towards injured workers. J Occup Rehabil. 2012;22(2):143–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-011-9335-z.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Sanatkar S, Bartlett J, Harvey S, Counson I, Lawrence D. The influence of stigma perceptions on employees’ claims experiences for psychological injuries: re-examination of a cross-sectional survey among Australian police and emergency service personnel. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912438.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

23.

Sears JM, Schulman BA, Fulton-Kehoe D, Hogg-Johnson S. Workplace organizational and psychosocial factors associated with return-to-work interruption and reinjury among workers with permanent impairment. Ann Work Expo Health. 2021;65(5):566–80. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaa133.CrossRefPubMed

24.

Martinez-Calderon J, Flores-Cortes M, Morales-Asencio JM, Fernandez-Sanchez M, Luque-Suarez A. Which interventions enhance pain self-efficacy in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, including over 12 000 participants. JOSPT. 2020;50(8):418–30. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2020.9319.CrossRefPubMed

25.

Hutting N, Caneiro JP, Ong’wen OM, Miciak M, Roberts L. Person-centered care for musculoskeletal pain: putting principles into practice. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2022;62: 102663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102663.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Healey EL, Lewis M, Corp N, Shivji NA, van der Windt DA, Babatunde OO, et al. Supported self-management for all with musculoskeletal pain: an inclusive approach to intervention development: the EASIER study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023;24(1):474. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06452-4.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

27.

Lin I, Wiles L, Waller R, Goucke R, Nagree Y, Gibberd M, et al. What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like? Eleven consistent recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines: systematic review. BJSM. 2020;54(2):79–86. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099878.CrossRefPubMed

28.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Low back pain: clinical care standard. Sydney, Australia: The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care 2022.

29.

The Behaviour Change Collaborative. Australian workers’ understanding of workers’ compensation systems and their communication preferences: collaboration for evidence, research, and impact in public health; 2022

30.

Popova S. Locus of control—predictor of health and subjective well-being. Eur Med Health Pharm J. 2012;4:47–52.CrossRef

31.

Abedi M, Aplin T, Gane E, Johnston V. “No Man’s Land”: the experiences of persons injured in a road traffic crash wanting to return to work in Queensland, Australia. Disabil Rehabil. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2153178.CrossRefPubMed

32.

Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. IJQHC. 2007;19(6):349–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzm042.CrossRef

33.

Korstjens I, Moser A. Series: practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: trustworthiness and publishing. Eur J Gen Pract. 2018;24(1):120–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/13814788.2017.1375092.CrossRefPubMed

34.

Hennink M, Kaiser BN. Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: a systematic review of empirical tests. Soc Sci Med. 2022;292: 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Wellbeing and the Lived Experience of Injured Workers Following Finalisation of a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Authors: James Weir
Robyn Fary
Samantha Lee
Tim Mitchell
Venerina Johnston
Mary Wyatt
Robert Guthrie
Bronwyn Myers
Darren Beales
Publication date: 04-01-2025
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-024-10264-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on adolescent vaping

Springer Medicine

Wellbeing and the Lived Experience of Injured Workers Following Finalisation of a Workers’ Compensation Claim

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on adolescent vaping

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content